Nightclub or hotel: City cracks down on controversial Surfers Paradise party venue

A Glitter Strip venue is in hot water for ‘trading as a nightclub’ despite only being given development approval to operate as a hotel. Find out where

A controversial Gold Coast venue has been slapped with a show cause notice for allegedly “trading as a nightclub” despite development approval requiring it to operate as a hotel.

Gold Coast City Council launched the action against Casablanca, located at the Surfers Paradise riverfront foreshore in Tiki Village, following an investigation by council officers.

In recent months, the Bulletin has reported nearby residents’ concerns about the intended use of the location.

Casablanca director Alex Said maintained his venue was operating as a hotel, not a nightclub.

Casablanca in Surfers Paradise. Picture: Melanie Whiting

But Area councillor Darren Taylor said the venue operator had until October 2 to formally respond to the show cause notice.

“I have been very vigilant in this space. From day one we had concerns and they were fully aware of it,” Cr Taylor said.

“As far as I’m concerned, from day one they have blatantly done what they have liked and disregarded the whole process,” Cr Taylor claimed, adding: “They are not meeting the development application requirements for the usage of the site.

“They have got the hotel usage, so it can operate as a hotel.

“They are actually trading as a nightclub. Our DA specifically says that nightclubs are not allowed,” Mr Taylor claimed.

“From the very first weekend (it opened) we got a lot of photos, videos and some complaints about the activities, we then did an investigation which then led to a show cause notice.”

Cr Darren Taylor. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Mr Said confirmed he received the council’s show cause notice.

“The response has already been given to council that we are not operating as a nightclub,” he said.

“It’s their due (process). I have made it very clear that we’re not trading as a nightclub.”

Casablanca director Alex Said.

Casablanca’s hotel liquor licence application was granted in June.

In addition to standard commercial hotel conditions, special conditions were imposed on the licence in relation to the management of noise and security in and around the premises.

The Office of Liquor and Gaming was contacted for comment on what the show cause notice meant for Casablanca’s liquor licence.

The venue has been the subject of controversy over several months and copped a flood of noise complaints from nearby residents before it even opened on July 1.

In June, disgruntled Surfers Paradise residents revealed their plans to take their fight against the venue to a civil disputes tribunal.

Dozens of people objected to Casablanca being granted a commercial hotel liquor licence because they believed it was being promoted as a nightclub, which prompted a warning from the council.

According to Business Queensland, a commercial hotel licence allows a business to sell alcohol for consumption either on the premises or on and off.

This type of licence is required to run a hotel or tavern.

Alternatively, a nightclub licence is needed when the main function of a business is to provide entertainment, it stated.